Whilst holidaying in Tuscany, it’s highly worthwhile to pay a visit to some of the architectural masterpieces executed under the direction of these two great architects of the Renaissance; Arnolfo di Cambio and Giotto.
Together they helped to design some of Florence city’s finest buildings and their interior architecture. Visitors that want to spend a few days of their vacation here have a wealth of beautiful apartments and holiday rentals with excellent reviews in Florence to choose from.
Arnolfo di Cambio was born in 1240 in Colle Val d’Elsa in Siena and was educated in the arts of sculpture and architecture. He quickly rose through the ranks and soon led the design of many expansion layouts of Tuscan towns including Terranuova Bracciolini in the Valdarno area.
Together they helped to design some of Florence city’s finest buildings and their interior architecture. Visitors that want to spend a few days of their vacation here have a wealth of beautiful apartments and holiday rentals with excellent reviews in Florence to choose from.
Arnolfo di Cambio was born in 1240 in Colle Val d’Elsa in Siena and was educated in the arts of sculpture and architecture. He quickly rose through the ranks and soon led the design of many expansion layouts of Tuscan towns including Terranuova Bracciolini in the Valdarno area.
Visit some of his most famous architectural masterpieces like Cathedral Santa Maria del Fiore, Palazzo Vecchio and the Basilica of Santa Croce. This Basilica is one of the most ornately designed buildings in Florence that also houses some fantastic works by Michelangelo, Galileo and Rossini.
Palazzo Vecchio in Piazza della Signoria has a tower which di Cambio designed and is now named in his honour, called ‘Torre di Arnolfo’. If you feel like exploring some of Arnolfo di Cambio’s work outside of Florence then visit the glorious castle in the town of Poppi in the province of Arezzo which he renovated and extended beautifully.
Giotto, whose real name was Ambrogio Bondone was born around 1267 in the town of Mugello near Florence and went on to come a superb artist and architect. He was part of the movement in Italian art that marked the end of the Gothic period and the beginning of the Renaissance.
One of his paintings, ‘Maesta di Ognissanti’ is on display in the Uffizi Gallery and another famous work ‘Crucifix’ is hung in the church of Santa Maria Novella in Florence. They both mark a movement away from what was the idealised style of Byzantine art and more like the styles associated with early Renaissance art.
Palazzo Vecchio in Piazza della Signoria has a tower which di Cambio designed and is now named in his honour, called ‘Torre di Arnolfo’. If you feel like exploring some of Arnolfo di Cambio’s work outside of Florence then visit the glorious castle in the town of Poppi in the province of Arezzo which he renovated and extended beautifully.
Giotto, whose real name was Ambrogio Bondone was born around 1267 in the town of Mugello near Florence and went on to come a superb artist and architect. He was part of the movement in Italian art that marked the end of the Gothic period and the beginning of the Renaissance.
One of his paintings, ‘Maesta di Ognissanti’ is on display in the Uffizi Gallery and another famous work ‘Crucifix’ is hung in the church of Santa Maria Novella in Florence. They both mark a movement away from what was the idealised style of Byzantine art and more like the styles associated with early Renaissance art.
In his architectural career he was a master builder in the renovation of Piazza del Duomo and the decorative design of the Peruzzi chapel in the church of Santa Croce.
He also designed Florence’s cathedral tower which displays some of his beautiful bas relief designs on the bottom. It’s now called ‘Campanile di Giotto’ in his honour.
Some of his last and probably a collection of his finest work can be seen in the chapel of the Podesta del Bargello in Via del Proconsolo in Florence. Here, visitors can admire visual stories of Mary Magdalene, a fresco titled ‘The Judgement’ and the oldest known portrait of Dante Alighieri in existence. His inspiring work was full of potent colour use and realism, aspects that became of the Renaissance art style movement.
Tourists would also enjoy a visit to Giotto's nearby hometown of Mugello where there is a charming museum that honours his fascintaing story in greater detail.
Learning more about the life and works of these two great men is sure to enrich the cultural aspect of your Tuscan holiday experience if you want to include it. Read through some of our related articles that describe the life and times of other great Renaissance men that were born and bred in Tuscany.
He also designed Florence’s cathedral tower which displays some of his beautiful bas relief designs on the bottom. It’s now called ‘Campanile di Giotto’ in his honour.
Some of his last and probably a collection of his finest work can be seen in the chapel of the Podesta del Bargello in Via del Proconsolo in Florence. Here, visitors can admire visual stories of Mary Magdalene, a fresco titled ‘The Judgement’ and the oldest known portrait of Dante Alighieri in existence. His inspiring work was full of potent colour use and realism, aspects that became of the Renaissance art style movement.
Tourists would also enjoy a visit to Giotto's nearby hometown of Mugello where there is a charming museum that honours his fascintaing story in greater detail.
Learning more about the life and works of these two great men is sure to enrich the cultural aspect of your Tuscan holiday experience if you want to include it. Read through some of our related articles that describe the life and times of other great Renaissance men that were born and bred in Tuscany.
Photo credits
picture 1: sailko / CC BY-SA 3.0;
picture 2: frieda / CC BY-SA 3.0;
picture 1: sailko / CC BY-SA 3.0;
picture 2: frieda / CC BY-SA 3.0;
